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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 1997.PDF
800 FLIGHT International, 14 November 1963 The USAF crew at work in the splendid flight deck of a C-130 during an IFR fight from Rhein Main to Ramstein UP TO THEIR EYES IN SOLDIERS... overall conclusion became more and more obvious, despite the conciliatory or evasive attitude of high-ranking government and military personalities on hand to watch the exercise. The intricate overall timetable and load plan for Big Lift was worked out on the computer at MATS headquarters at Scott AFB, St Louis. A special MATS unit was stationed at Chateauroux in France to control the operation and plans were laid to cover unexpected diversions and consequent shuttling of diverted troops. Preceding the transport fleet was a composite air striking force of more than 100 tactical fighters and reconnaissance aircraft and their personnel and equipment, intended to establish air superiority for the ground troops. All this activity could be watched from the press centre set up at Frankfurt Rhein Main, where the USAF and Army had pro vided lavish facilities and stacks of press releases covering a bewildering profusion of formations and facilities. Unfortunately, by the very nature of the operation, the reporter who wanted to interview the cook who had baked the 2001b tank-shaped cake to welcome the first troops had a much easier task than the other reporter who failed to ascertain some overall quantitative informa tion, even by reading the reports of his colleagues. Various myths grew up. Large numbers of troops were not in fact diverted to Spain, as was currently reported during the first night. The Voodoos at Ramstein claimed to be the first tactical aircraft to reach Europe, but landed three hours after the F-105s at Chaumont. The last troop-carrying aircraft has been variously reported as landing at Ramstein, Sembach and Rhein Main anywhere between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. on the Thursday night. It was generally accepted that the target time for the lift was 72hr, but the basic briefing sheet issued before the first aircraft took off gave a target time of 63hr 40min, to which the operation adhered within minutes. The destinations were said to be Frankfurt Rhein Main, Ramstein and Sembach, but troops were also landed, apparently by prearrangement, in France at Toul, Phalsbourg, Etain, Chaumont and Chambley. Despite the uncertainty of the reporting system, the computed plan seemed to work out well. Hurricane Ginny over the western Atlantic and autumnal fog over Europe, had surprisingly little effect. Frankfurt went out with fog for seven hours early on the first morning and four C-135s were diverted to Ramstein, one to Mildenhall and another two stacked over Frankfurt for two hours before landing with the first tenuous clearance. One C-124 suffered engine failure and landed in the US. The relief also had engine trouble. But the troops got there, and at least those seen to dis embark from C-135s at Rhein Main looked fit and well. They were sunburnt by the Texas sun and must have been impressed by the dank European weather. Big Lift in reverse, though it will not have the military and public relations pressure behind it, will be just as big an operation. Altogether 355 MATS crews and 204 aircraft were involved, with the 23 C-135s making two return journeys in the time it took the C-118s to make one return journey. Even in this jet age, the backbone of the lift were the 98 C-124s, carrying 80 troops each- more than any other type in the operation. But they took 31hr 45min to cross via the Azores and 29hr 40min via Iceland, compared to lOJhr non-stop for the C-135s. Surprisingly, the 18 enormous C-133s came by the northern route only, with shorter stages, and took 21hr 5min, carrying only ten troops and mostly cargo. Fastest of the turboprops was the C-130, taking 20hr lOmin via the Azores and 19hr 30min via Iceland. After each crossing many of the transports dispersed for 15hr crew-rest periods. It says a One of the eight RF-IOIs of the composite air strike force stopping at Ramstein after its non-stop, air- fuelled flight from AFB, Maine Do*
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